One of the greatest gifts and traditions of the Christmas season is music — indeed, nothing says Christmas, even to those for whom this is not a religious holiday, as the music associated with the season.

With Christmas Eve falling on a Sunday this year, schedules are being compressed into a somewhat shorter time frame — in fact, several concerts have already taken place.

Among the concerts on tap:

Michael Feinstein: He sings and plays the piano through a holiday program with the quintessential Feinstein touch on Friday at Cal State Northridge’s Valley Performing Arts Center. 818-677-3000, www.valleyperformingartscenter.org

Angeles Chorale: The Angeles Chorale begins its 43rd season on Saturday at First United Methodist Church, Pasadena, as Artistic Director John Sutton leads his chorus in “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” a program that begins with CPE Bach’s “Magnificat,” and continues with familiar and less-well-known carols and an audience sing-along. 818-591-1735, www.angeleschorale.org

Chorale Bel Canto: Led by Stephen Gothold, features Camile Saint-Saëns “Christmas Oratorio” along with songs and carols from around the world on Saturday at East Whittier United Methodist Church in Whittier. 888-460-9222, www.choralebelcanto.org

Pasadena Master Chorale: Led by Artistic Director Jeffrey Bernstein, offers “Twilight of the Year” on Saturday at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Pasadena. The program includes Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols,” Eric Whitacre’s “Lux Aurumque,” Stephen Paulus’ “The Road Home” and other seasonal works. 626-208.0009, www.pasadenamasterchorale.org

Masters of Harmony: Fresh off its ninth win in Barbershop Harmony International’s international competition last July, offers holiday concerts on Dec. 16 at the Carpenter Center in Long Beach and Dec. 17 at Colony High School in Ontario. Chorus Director Justin Miller leads this chorus of 117 men in a program that mixes music with choreography. 800-838-3006, www.mastersofharmony.org

Los Angeles Master Chorale: Offers several programs in December including a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” on Dec. 16 and its 37th annual “Messiah Sing-along” on Dec. 17, both at Walt Disney Concert Hall. With Artistic Director Grant Gershon up north leading John Adams’ opera, “Girls of the Golden West,” Associate Conductor Jenny Wong leads a program of Bach’s “Six Motets” on Dec. 10. 213-972-7282, www.lamasterchorale.org

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra: If you’re tired of Christmas music, here’s another one worth noting: Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, led by Concertmaster Margaret Batjer, performs all six of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos on Saturday at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium in Pasadena, Dec. 10 at UCLA’s Royce Hall in Westwood, and Dec. 14 at Chapman University’s Musco Center for the Arts in Orange. Mahan Esfahani is featured on harpsichord. 213-622 7001, www.laco.org

Robert D. Thomas is a freelance music writer. Email BobTatFORE@aol.com. Read more of his reviews at insidesocal.com/classact.